Plastic casket



Dec. 25, 1951 c. M. REED PLASTIC CASKET Filed July 51, 1947 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Dec. 25, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE PLASTIC CASKET Charles M. Reed, East Chicago, Ina.

Application July 31, 1947, Serial Noni 7.64963 1 Claim. (o1. 277-7) This invention relates to caskets and more specifically to a novel and improved casket structure particularly well suited to manufacture of plastic material and having features not heretofore known in the art.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a casket formed of plastic material so that it is capable of being adequately and easily separate pieces with an outer opaque cover to seal the casket at the time of burial, and an inner cover that is at least partially transparent, to permit viewing of the deceased during services.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a plastic casket having inner and outer covers, each adapted to be chemically fused to the base of the casket. This not only provides an adequate moisture seal after burial, but also permits the casket to be sealed during services as a precaution against spread of communicable diseases. Even though the casket is sealed, the transparent portion permits an unobstructed view of the inside. The cover and shell are both arranged so that they may be fused to the base of the casket without the use of cements or gaskets.

The foregoing objects are accomplished in this disclosure by provision of a casket formed entirely of plastic. Various plastics may be used, but it is contemplated that best results will be obtained by the use of a transparent plastic adapted for molding into relatively large sections; so that portions of the inner shell of the casket may be left transparent, and yet the casket base and cover may be made opaque or colored to any desired shade.

Referring now to the drawings attached hereto and forming a part of this disclosure,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a casket constructed in accordance with theseteachings, and shown with the outer cover in position,

Figure 2 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1, showingthe I cover removed and the shell only, in position, and.

Figures ,is a detailed fragmentalsectional ,view

casket. 1

The 1 casketincludes a .base portion In; which may be, ornamental .in form and will ordinarily be provided with a plurality. of, hand. grips ii I or rails H These-need notbe molded .with the casket .structurabutcan be easily. attached by, molding them separately, of plastic and cement,. ,ing; or. fusing them .to the exterior surfaceof the casketnbase. The base ll) includes a marginal rim orledge I4 with-aninherN-shaped groove.

l5, and an. outer .V-shaped groove 16. extending completely around the base..toprovideitapered.V ,sealing surfaces for. ,an inner, shell i I1 and .an

outer cover l8 The shell ,l'lincludes .a tapered .1. tongue laiitted into the groove 15,,and the outer cover 18. includes a similar. tongue "20 adapted j to be received in wedgingengasement in the groove t6 It is contemplatedthat thecover l8 and base, lllubeentirely opaque, but that the inner shell I! have an opaque portion Ulla over the lower end of the casket .withga transparent win.-

dow portion. llb at the. upper end, so that the head and shoulders of the corpse will'be visible, even with the inner shell I! sealed in position. This permits the viewing of the deceased during the funeral services, yet'provides an adequate safeguard against contagious diseases. Sealing of the casket requires no gaskets nor cement, and may be accomplished merely by flowing a small amount of plastic solvent in the grooves l5 and I6 and then placing the shell or cover 18 in position. The tapered surfaces of the tongues 19 and 20 wedge into the grooves and fuse themselves into sealing relationship with the base portion. This sealing may be facilitated by placing the shell only in place and then withdrawing some of the air from the inside of the casket, so that external air pressure will force the shell downwardly with considerable force and cause a perfect seal between the surfaces of the tongue and groove. To this end an air outlet port 2| is provided in the casket base. A similar port 22 is formed in the cover so that after the shell is sealed in position, both ports may be connected by air lines 23 and 24 respectively to a vacuum pump 25. Air is simultaneously extracted through the opening 2| from the cavity 26 and through the opening 22 from the cavity inner, I

21 between the inside shell I! and the exterior cover. This efiectively equalizes the pressures on the. opposite sides of the relatively thin shell I! so that it bears no strain, and permits a somewhat greater rarefication of the air in order that atmospheric pressure will force the tongue 20 into intimate sealing relationship with the groove 16. The rarefication of the air within the casket also assists in withdrawing any moisture or vapor within the casket so that it is entirely dry and condensation-proof.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the teachings of this invention result in the provision of a casket that may be formed of combustible material so that it is well suited to cremation purposes, and at the same time is Water resistant, decay resistant, impervious to the action of fungus and bacteria, and not subject to corrosion. It may be economicallymanufactured, particularly since various styles and designs may have the main portions of identical shape, and different types, sizes and styles of ornamental parts thereafter attached to give the finished caskets differing characteristics of'appearance. Further, attractive appearance is achieved without the necessity of applying outer coverings, lacquers, or paints.

The casket permits a view of the deceased, but at the same time protects against the spread of contagious diseases. It not only provides a seal on the inside shell prior to burial, but the exterior opaque cover gives a double seal that prevents any possibility of the entrance of moisture. Moreover, these advantages are accomplished with a comparatively simple structure consisting of only three essential pieces, and the sealing is accomplished by an actual fusion of the plastic surfaces to each other so that any necessity for gaskets or fillers iseliminated.

While the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings is the present preferred construction, it is to be recognized that it is merely illustrative oi the principles involved, and is not a limitation on the scope of the invention. It is accordingly pointed out that the invention is not limited to the precise structure shown, but extends equally to any variations and modifications within the terms of the following claim.

Having thus described the invention, what I r 4 claim as new and desire to protect by United States Letters Patent is:

In a casket, the combination of a base portion of generally rectangular shape and formed of opaque plastic material having a marginal ledge around its outer edges with a pair of endless sealing surfaces comprising tapered interior and exterior grooves extending around the ledge and spaced apart from each other to support an interior cover shell and exterior top cover respectively, said grooves being adapted to receive a solvent material, an interior cover shell over the base portion to define an interior cavity of the casket, the shell comprising a single thin convex plastic sheet including a tapered marginal tongue adapted to be received in the inner sealing groove of the base ledge, an exterior cover comprising an opaque plastic top larger than the inner cover and also including a tapered marginal tongue adapted to fit in sealing engagement with the outer groove of the base ledge to seal the space between the top and the inner shell, together with an air port through the base portion and a second air port in said cover shell whereby a source of minus pressure and conduit means may be connected to both of said air ports to thereby apply a minus pressure to the interior cavity of said casket and the space between the convex plastic sheet and the exterior cover, and whereby atmospheric pressure on the surface of the exterior cover may be utilized to efiect a pressure fusion of the tongue of the outer shell with the corresponding groove of the base portion.

CHARLES M. REED.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 578,302 Turbeville Mar. 2, 1897 785,186 Stafiord Mar. 21, 1905 809,573 Leech Jan. 9, 1906 1,541,323 Cartasso June 9, 1925 1,711,542 Rosenquist May 7, 1929 2,199,018 Bahr Apr. 30, 1940 2,375,386 Rick May 8, 1945 

